KARACHI: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to file comments on a constitutional petition filed proprietor of M/s M.J Industries against blockage of their WeBOC user ID/ NTN by officials of the customs department.
On 17 December 2020, during the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is a duly registered sole proprietorship firm mainly engaged in business of manufacturer/ importer, the petitioner enjoys a good reputation in the business circles and has carried on its business strictly in accordance with law and follows the highest professional standards and norms in conducting his business.
He further informed the court that on arrival of goods, GD was filed by the petitioner for clearance of the same, however, GD was not processing, thereafter it transpires that the ID/NTN of the petitioner for filing GD in the WeBOC computerized system had been blocked by the customs authorities without assigning any lawful reason.
He further argued that on appearance of blockage of NTN in GD, the petitioner has approached the respondents to de-blocked the same but on several visits to their officers, no response/ reply has yet received by the petitioner, the consignments of the petitioner are still lying at port and incurring heavy demurrage and detention charges on daily basis, there is no order passed by the respondents on the request/ undertaking of the petitioner to unblocking the NTN.
Citing chairman FBR, Collector of Customs West, Deputy Collector of Customs MCC West and Deputy Collector of Recovery MCC West as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that the suspension/ blockage of the NTN/ WeBOC user ID of the petitioner is unlawful, arbitrary and liable to be struck down, as being ultra vires the constitution of Pakistan, 1973, the customs act, 1969, and the customs rules, 2001.
He further pleaded the court may direct the respondents to de-block the WeBoc user ID/ NTN of the petitioner.
